URUMQI, Jan. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- A research project jointly carried out by Chinese and French archaeologists shows that 2,000 years ago 98 species of wild vertebrates haunted the center of the Taklamakan desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    Archaeologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the French Central Asia Institute, through in-depth investigation along the lower reaches of the Keriya River, discovered the remains of four fish species, one amphibian, four reptile species,70 bird species, and 19 beast species.

    The list includes panthera tigris (tiger) which is now extinct. Other remains include lapis yarkandensis (rabbit), nesokia indica (rodent), meriones tamariscinus (rodent), coturnix (partridge), streptopelia (turtle dove) and milvus lineatus (glede).

    The joint investigation started in 1993, and ended this month. Ma Ming, a researcher from CAS, said that they investigated the area 200-km north and south of the Keriya River, and found key vegetation such as reeds.

    He noted that according to satellite pictures and on-the-spot investigation, 2,000 years ago the Taklamakan desert had abundant rivers and plants and various kinds of animals. Enditem